'THE CURSE OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS'

Stepped-Up Fight Against Meth Announced In Macoupin County

Federal, state and Macoupin County authorities are banding together to
fight what Macoupin County State's Attorney Vince Moreth calls "the curse
of central Illinois."

In his mostly rural county, Moreth says, methamphetamine is the "biggest
problem I've seen since I became involved in law enforcement in 1969."

Moreth and U.S Attorney Jan Paul Miller, accompanied by Macoupin County
Sheriff Gary Wheeler, three chiefs of police and the commander of the
Illinois State Police's South Central Illinois Drug Task Force, announced
Thursday that an ongoing investigation has resulted in federal charges
against five Macoupin residents and one from southern Sangamon County.

Moreth said his office has handled hundreds of meth cases over the past
three years, when the methamphetamine problem began to snowball in Macoupin
County. Thursday's gathering of law enforcement officials "represents a
commitment to work together on a very difficult and dangerous problem," he
said.

Miller said methamphetamine, which is manufactured using chemicals
obtainable at hardware stores and discount centers, is dangerous not just
because of its side effects but because the manufacturing process can cause
explosions and fires.

Moreth asked all businesses that sell cold medicine containing
pseudoephedrine, such as Sudafed, to put the products behind their
counters, limit purchases to two packages and sell only to people 18 and older.

Some Macoupin County businesses already have put cold remedies out of easy
reach, and others are considering such action, he said.

"Those business that won't should consider the consequences," Moreth said.
Users of methamphetamine may experience hallucinations, paranoia,
aggressive behavior, loss of appetite, acne or sores and convulsions,
Miller said.

Continued use can lead to fatal kidney and lung disorders, brain damage,
depression, and other health problems.

Chemicals used to make methamphetamine include ether, automotive starting
fluid, lithium batteries, camping-lantern fuel, drain cleaner and anhydrous
ammonia.

"Central Illinois is experiencing what other states have gone through,"
Miller said of the meth scourge. "It's still primarily a rural problem,
although it is getting closer to more populous areas."

Moreth said Macoupin County might be hit harder than other counties because
Interstate 55 runs through it between two urban areas - the Metro East area
and Springfield. Meth reports seem more prevalent on the northern end of
Macoupin County, he said, although many cases have come from south of
Carlinville.

The six people charged by complaint in federal court this week are: Angela
Sparling, 37, Stephen Ruebush, also 37, and Jerry Nagel, all of Girard;
Bryan McCoy, 38, of Lowder; and Rebecca Conlee, 30, and David E. Gross, 43,
both of Carlinville. All are being detained pending detention hearings next
week in federal court in Springfield.

Assistant U.S. attorney Esteban Sanchez is coordinating the prosecution of
all the defendants.

Sparling and Ruebush, her ex-boyfriend, are charged with conspiracy to
manufacture meth. They allegedly cooked the drug daily from Aug. 1 to Aug.
29, 2002, in Girard, with each batch totaling 35 to 40 grams.

Nagel also is charged with conspiracy to manufacture meth. An affidavit
filed in support of the complaint alleges that from June 2001 to April 8,
2002, he conspired with Gregory Stolleis and others to produce more than
153 grams of meth.

McCoy and others allegedly manufactured more than 1,750 grams of meth from
June 2001 to April 2002.

All four face a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment if
convicted.

Conlee is charged with attempted manufacture of meth. A search of her room
at the Bel-Aire Hotel in Carlinville on Aug. 30, 2002, produced 700 to 800
pseudoephedrine pills, salt, starter fluid, stripped lithium batteries and
drug paraphernalia. She faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

Gross is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to
distribute and with possession of a firearm in relation to a drug
trafficking crime. The drug charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in
prison, and the weapons offense carries a mandatory five-year term.

Stolleis, 25, of Girard, pleaded guilty in January to attempted manufacture
of methamphetamine and carrying a gun in relation to a drug trafficking
offense. He is scheduled for sentencing May 30.